Method and Device for Involvement-Dependent Dynamic Blocking of an Operating Apparatus

ABSTRACT

The disclosure relates to a device for blocking display and/or operating contexts comprising at least one operating apparatus for detecting user interactions, and an evaluation apparatus, configured to determine a current involvement value at least on the basis of the detected user interactions. The evaluation apparatus is configured to compare the current involvement value with at least one interruption threshold value and to establish a blocking state if the current involvement value reaches the interruption threshold value. The evaluation apparatus blocks or at least restricts at least one operating context of the at least one operating apparatus. The current involvement value is increased for each detected haptic user interaction, insofar as the current involvement value has not reached or exceeded the at least one interruption threshold value and the evaluation apparatus is configured to lower, continuously or in increments of time, the current involvement value by a recovery value.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. DE 102020 215 460.0, filed on Dec. 8, 2020 with the German Patent andTrademark Office. The contents of the aforesaid Patent Application areincorporated herein for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a method and a device for blocking displayand/or operating contexts in a vehicle due to excessive distraction ofthe driver from the driving process.

BACKGROUND

This background section is provided for the purpose of generallydescribing the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently namedinventor(s), to the extent the work is described in this backgroundsection, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwisequalify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly norimpliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.

Modern vehicles have numerous assistance and comfort systems whosefunctions sometimes require multi-step operation. It has been shownthat, in doing so, there is a risk that the driver will be distractedtoo long from the driving process when operating complex functionalitiesthat require a large number of operating steps, and safe driving by thedriver is therefore not always ensured. In particular, complex multistepinput actions often require removing one's gaze from the trafficsituation.

Moreover, individual comfort content, for example displaying televisionor video images, are basically blocked while driving since looking atthem is associated with a diversion from the traffic situation, which isunacceptable.

It is known in principle to block certain functions in vehicles thatrequire multi-step operations such as, for example, entering an addressby selecting letters of a street name for a navigation destination.This, however, leads to unsatisfactory restrictions and does not allowfor adequately addressing operating situations in which, for example,several functions are operated in chronological order or aresubsequently integrated into vehicle components.

SUMMARY

A need exists to provide an improved device and improved method thatprovide flexibility while operating and simultaneously provide a highlevel of safety when the driver is driving the vehicle.

The need is addressed by the subject matter of the independent claims.Embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims, thefollowing description, and the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of an example vehicle with adevice for the involvement-dependent dynamic blocking of an operatingapparatus;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of an example block diagram toillustrate the current involvement value;

FIG. 3 shows a plurality of example bar charts to visualize the currentinvolvement value at different points in time during the userinteraction;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic interior view of an example vehicle cockpitwith an enlarged operating apparatus in an unblocked state;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic interior view of an example cockpit with anoperating apparatus in a warning state;

FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of an example cockpit interiorview in which the operating apparatus is in a blocking state;

FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of an example mode of operationof two state machines in determining the current involvement value; and

FIG. 8 shows a schematic representation of an example front region of avehicle with a plurality of display and/or operating apparatuses.

DESCRIPTION

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanyingdrawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent fromthe description, drawings, and from the claims.

In the following description of embodiments of the invention, specificdetails are described in order to provide a thorough understanding ofthe invention. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill inthe art that the invention may be practiced without these specificdetails. In other instances, well-known features have not been describedin detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the instant description.

The teachings herein are based on the idea of not fundamentally blockingthe functions and functionalities from the beginning, but ratherperforming the blocking dynamically during the use of the at least oneoperating apparatus depending on the actual user interaction. Thisallows blocking of the at least one operating apparatus to occurindependent of the specific function that is to be operated, or also ofan operation of a sequence of different functions, when it isanticipated that the driver will be overly distracted from the drivingprocess, and an operation of functions is permitted that, in thespecific case, only require a small number of operating steps that adriver can perform during an appropriate period and with an appropriatenumber of operating steps and operating complexity without this beingunacceptable with regard to driving the vehicle in terms of drivingsafety.

In particular, a device is proposed for a vehicle for blocking displayand/or operating contexts comprising:

at least one operating apparatus for detecting, in particular haptic,user interactions, and an evaluation apparatus which is designed todetermine a current involvement value at least on the basis of thedetected user interactions, wherein the evaluation apparatus is designedto compare the current involvement value with at least one interruptionthreshold value, and to establish a blocking state if the currentinvolvement value reaches or exceeds the at least one interruptionthreshold value, and the evaluation apparatus blocks or at leastrestricts at least one operating context of the at least one operatingapparatus, wherein the current involvement value is increased for eachdetected, in particular haptic, user interaction, insofar as the currentinvolvement value has not reached or exceeded the at least oneinterruption threshold value, wherein the evaluation apparatus isdesigned to lower, continuously or in increments of time, the currentinvolvement value by a recovery value.

Furthermore, a method is proposed for blocking display and/or operatingcontexts in a vehicle that comprises the method steps: detecting, inparticular haptic, user interactions by means of at least one operatingapparatus, and determining a current involvement value using at leastthe detected user interactions, wherein the current involvement value iscompared with at least one interruption threshold value, and a blockingstate is established if the current involvement value reaches or exceedsthe at least one interruption threshold value, and at least oneoperating context of the at least one operating apparatus is blocked orat least restricted from further operation, wherein the currentinvolvement value is increased for each detected, in particular haptic,user interaction, insofar as the current involvement value has notreached or exceeded the at least one interruption threshold value, andthe current involvement value is lowered by a recovery valuecontinuously or in increments of time.

The teachings herein offer the benefit that a blocking state is broughtabout dynamically depending on the involvement value, i.e., theinvolvement of the driver in an operation, by restricting or completelyblocking additional operation of the at least one operating apparatus.Restriction of operation is required when certain functionalities thatare needed for safely driving the vehicle are to remain operable.Otherwise, overall operation with the at least one operating apparatusis generally blocked once the blocking state is reached.

To ensure, for example, that no further operation is performed for aminimum period of time, in some embodiments, the operation of the atleast one operating apparatus is only again permitted if the currentinvolvement value has dropped to or below a release threshold value.This occurs as a result of the continuous reduction of the currentinvolvement value over time.

In principle, the following holds true for all decisions in the presentdescription in which a distinction is made between two states areconditional requirements depending on achieving or exceeding, or,respectively, achieving or falling below a value: the achievement of thevalue can be assigned to either one or the other state, or,respectively, one of the other conditional requirement. This is not atall decisive. It is only important that the achievement of the value isassigned to one state or one conditional requirement. Accordingly, therecan only be a change to the blocking state if the current involvementvalue exceeds the interruption threshold value. Correspondingly inembodiments, the blocking state is for example only terminated if thecurrent involvement value falls below the release threshold value.

In some embodiments, the evaluation apparatus is therefore designed toterminate the blocking state if the current involvement value fallsbelow a release threshold value, or alternatively reaches or falls belowthe release threshold value.

In order for the involvement value to most clearly reflect theinvolvement of the driver in the user interaction and represent a goodindicator of the distraction from driving the vehicle, it has proven tobe beneficial to evaluate the different user interactions using verysimple criteria for the involvement value.

It has proven beneficial to evaluate the spatial distance of thepositions at which the user interactions are carried out in immediatesuccession over time, in particular are started, and the time intervalsbetween these user interactions, in particular between the starts ofthese user interactions. Some embodiments provide that the at least oneoperating apparatus is designed to detect the user interaction resolvedfor position and time, and the evaluation apparatus is designed toincrease the current involvement value depending on the spatial distancebetween positions and a time interval of sequential user interactions.

Position-dependent detection means that the position at which the usermakes the entry is detected. In one operating apparatus with a keypad,this is for example the position of the key pressed during actuation. Inone operating apparatus that for example is designed as a touchscreen,this is the position of touch at which the user interaction is started.

Time-resolved detection means that, in a user interaction, in additionto the position, the point in time is detected at which the userinteraction was made, or at least a time interval from a previousactuation is detected. This does not have to be time in terms of thetime of day; instead, the time can be determined using a cycle. Forexample, the value of a count register driven by an oscillating signalcan be used, or the clock cycles between two start times of userinteractions can be counted. In addition, a length of user interactionor a length of actuation can also be determined when detecting.

However, in order to not obtain an overly complex evaluation of the userinteractions, it is for example provided that all user interactions thatare not carried out in close proximity of the user interaction directlypreceding in time and in a short time interval to the preceding userinteraction are uniformly considered and evaluated as distance userinteractions. These are distinguished from user interactions that areexecuted sequentially in a temporal and spatial context. For example,when a control element is actuated twice or when the same location on atouchscreen is touched twice, the second user interaction is always lessinvolved than the first user interaction or an individual userinteraction carried out at a temporal and spatial distance from theprevious user interaction. Some embodiments provide that the evaluationapparatus is designed to increase the current involvement value uponeach detection of an actuation start by a constant distance actuationvalue when the spatial distance of the position at which the actuationstart of the user interaction is detected from the position at which theactuation start of the temporally preceding detected user interaction isdetected reaches or exceeds a proximity threshold value, or when a timespan between the detection of the actuation start and the detection ofan actuation start directly preceding in time reaches or exceeds a localactuation time span, and to increase the current involvement value by aconstant local actuation value upon each detected actuation start, whenthe spatial distance of the position at which the actuation start of theuser interaction is detected from the position at which the actuationstart of the temporally preceding detected user interaction is detectedfalls below a proximity threshold value, and in addition, a time spanbetween the detection of the actuation start and the detection of thetemporally immediately preceding actuation start falls below a localactuation time span, wherein the local actuation value is a smalleramount than the distance actuation value.

In principle, each user interaction is therefore evaluated the same.However, individual interactions are rated slightly lower whoseactuation positions lie within the proximity of a user interactiondirectly proceeding in time and additionally occurring in shortsuccession to an immediately temporally preceding user interaction sincesuch a double or multiple actuation distracts a user less than two ormore actuations in which the actuation element, in particular a finger,must be repositioned by the user.

An actuation duration of a user interaction also has an influence on howmuch a driver is distracted from the driving process. This holds true inparticular when a duration of the user interaction meets a thresholdvalue, which is described as a brief actuation threshold value here.This brief actuation threshold value is correlated with a briefactuation time span. Some embodiments provide that the evaluationapparatus is designed to increase the current involvement value by anactuation duration involvement value upon detecting an actuation end ofthe user interaction when an actuation duration of the user interactionhas reached or exceeded a brief actuation threshold value.

In principle, user interactions that last longer than, for example, ashort touch of a few 100 milliseconds or, in some embodiments, lastlonger than 1 second are rated interactions that indicate a higherinvolvement level by the user during the user interaction.

Some embodiments provide that the actuation duration involvement valueis variable and is for example the same as a minimum of, on the onehand, a product of a difference between the actuation duration and thebrief actuation time span, and an actuation duration weighting factor,and on the other hand an actuation duration involvement maximum value.

User interactions that have a longer actuation duration are thereforeregistered as more distracting actuations and user interactions, butvery long lasting actuations are not overvalued.

However, it has been shown that in addition to the pure number ofactuations as well as the positions of the actuations or the distancesbetween the actuation locations and the duration of actuation, thetemporal sequence of user interactions also provides information that ischaracteristic of certain distractions of the driver. Therefore, someembodiments provide that the evaluation apparatus has at least one statemachine which evaluates an interaction sequence of the user interactionsand is designed to recognize an increased involvement state or a normalinvolvement state based on the evaluation of the user interactionsequence, wherein the evaluation apparatus is designed to set thecurrent involvement value to or above the interruption threshold valuewhen the increased involvement state is recognized.

Such a state machine can therefore switch between a normal involvementstate and an increased involvement state, wherein the increasedinvolvement state causes the current involvement value to be raisedenough for it to reach or exceed the interruption threshold value, whichcauses the blocking state of the device to be triggered.

In some embodiments, the user interactions within an interactionsequence are investigated as to whether the temporally sequentialinteractions are longer than an interaction monitoring time span.Furthermore, it is evaluated whether the time differences between thetemporally sequential starts of the detected user interactions areshorter than an interaction interval time span. If a group of actuationstarts is found in the user interaction sequence that meets these twocriteria, the state machine to which are assigned the correspondinginteraction monitoring time span and the interaction interval time spanswitches to the increased involvement state. Some embodiments thereforeprovide that the at least one state machine is assigned an interactionmonitoring time span and an interaction interval time span, and changesto the increased involvement state upon detection of a user interactionsequence that comprises a group of actuation starts detectedsequentially over time, in which the time intervals between theactuation starts of the group detected in direct sequence are allshorter than (or equal to) the interaction interval time span, and atthe same time these actuation starts of the group in the userinteraction sequence span a time period which is greater than or equalto the interaction monitoring time span.

Moreover, it has been demonstrated that involvement by the driver inoperating the at least one operating apparatus in different userinteraction sequences can be high enough for it not to be conducive tosafely driving the vehicle. Some embodiments therefore provide thatthere is at least one additional state machine beyond the at least onestate machine.

Some embodiments provide that, beyond the at least one state machine,the evaluation apparatus comprises at least one additional state machinewhich evaluates the user interaction sequence and which is designed toalso detect an increased involvement state or a normal involvementstate, and the evaluation apparatus sets the current involvement valueto or above the interruption threshold value when the at least oneadditional state machine changes to the increased involvement state,wherein the at least one additional state machine is assigned anadditional interaction monitoring time span and an additionalinteraction interval time span, and changes to the increased involvementstate when a user interaction sequence is detected, which comprises anadditional group of temporally sequential detected actuation starts inwhich the time intervals between the actuation starts of the additionalgroup detected in direct sequence are all shorter than (or equal to) theadditional interaction interval time span, and at the same time theseactuation starts of the additional group in the user interactionsequence span a time period which is greater than or equal to theadditional interaction monitoring time span.

Contrastingly in some embodiments, the one state machine reacts tointeraction sequences that have actuation starts at a short timeinterval which last longer than the interaction monitoring time spanassigned to the at least one state machine, and where the time intervalsbetween the individual interaction starts are all shorter than theinteraction interval time span that are assigned to the at least onestate machine. In contrast, the at least one additional state machineestablishes a high level of involvement by the driver in the operationif, over a longer time period spanning the additional interactionmonitoring time span, there are repeated user interactions whoseactuation starts are spaced apart from each other by a shorter time thanthe additional interaction interval time span. In this case, theadditional interaction monitoring time span is longer than theinteraction monitoring time span, and the additional interactioninterval time span is greater than the interaction interval time spanthat is assigned to the at least one state machine. These continuousactuations that are, however, at greater intervals and over a longertime period without an interruption in actuation that is longer than theadditional interaction interval time span, detect, for example, userinteraction sequences in which several functions or vehicle apparatusesrequiring one or more operating steps are operated sequentially. Thiscan prevent a driver from attempting to avoid the blocking state in thathe performs a very large number of user interactions in very shortsequence, and such operations can also be prevented in which the atleast one operating apparatus is intentionally used slowly butcontinuously. Both operating strategies cause the blocking state to betriggered because one of the two state machines changes to the elevatedinvolvement state, either the at least one state machine or the at leastone additional state machine, since the current involvement value isalways set to or above the interruption threshold value when one of thestate machines assumes the increased involvement state.

The operation or user interactions that a user can perform without thisnegatively affecting the driving of the vehicle does not, however,solely depend on the number of undertaken user interactions or thetemporal sequence of these user interactions. Instead, other factorshave an influence on which user interactions can be considered safeand/or harmless. These factors comprise for example a state of thedriver himself, for example his tension and fatigue, but also factorssuch as environmental conditions, for example traffic volume or simplythe driving situation in which the vehicle is currently located.Increased awareness is accordingly necessary to, for example, drive thevehicle in inner-city traffic. In comparison, in a driving situationwhere, for example, driving is at a constant speed on a highway, thestress on the driver from driving the vehicle is less. Other factorscan, for example, be states of driver assistance systems. If, forexample, lane detection assistance is active and operated at a highconfidence level for detecting lane markings, less attention by thevehicle driver is required than, for example, when driving through aconstruction zone in which vehicle markings cannot be detected by theassistance system with the same confidence level.

All information factors that influence stress on the driver, whether bythe driver himself, the vehicle, or the environment with the exceptionof the user interaction with the at least one operating apparatus issubsumed here under the term stress information.

For this reason, some embodiments provide taking into account stressinformation by dynamically adapting the interruption threshold value.Some embodiments therefore provide designing the evaluation apparatus toreceive stress information and dynamically adapt the interruptionthreshold value based on the stress information.

In some embodiments, the evaluation apparatus comprises a strictnessmodule that is designed to evaluate stress information and dynamicallyadapt the interruption threshold value based on this evaluation.

Correspondingly, the release threshold value may also be for exampleadapted dynamically depending on the stress information. Someembodiments therefore provide designing the evaluation apparatus todynamically adapt the release threshold value depending on the stressinformation.

Whereas the interruption threshold value is lowered in the dynamicadaptation when major attention is required for driving the vehicle, theinterruption threshold value can correspondingly be raised when lessattention is required to drive the vehicle since, for example assistancesystems are helping the driver drive the vehicle, and/or for example thedriving situation does not represent major stress for the driver becauseof a low traffic volume.

In some embodiments, the release threshold value is not adapted. Inother embodiments, the release threshold value is lowered for theinstance in which major attention is needed to drive the vehicle, and iscorrespondingly raised when the driving situation does not require asmuch attention by the driver to drive the vehicle.

In some embodiments, the release threshold value can be lowered by agreater amount than the interruption threshold value when driving thevehicle requires greater attention by the driver. This extends theforced operating pause in comparison to a “normal state” that occursover the duration of the blocking state.

For example, it is provided to inform the driver of the occurrence ofthe blocking state. Some embodiments therefore provide that theevaluation apparatus is coupled to at least one output apparatus inorder to output blocking information about the existing blocking statethat is perceptible without removing one's gaze from the road traffic.

The output can occur in various modalities, for example visually, and/oracoustically, and/or haptically.

In some embodiments, the output apparatus comprises a lightingapparatus, for example with a plurality of lighting means, wherein thelighting apparatus, for example the plurality of lighting means, isarranged or can be arranged on the edge of a windshield in theperipheral field of vision of the driver. If the lighting apparatuscomprises, for example, a plurality of lighting means, the lightingmeans can comprise LEDs that are either multicolored and/or differentlycolored, and can be controlled individually or in groups to display theblocking state.

To prevent the driver from being surprised by the blocking state, it isbeneficial to provide one or more warning levels that inform a driverduring the user interaction that the current involvement value isapproaching the interruption threshold value.

Some embodiments therefore provide that the evaluation apparatuscomprises a warning apparatus which compares the current involvementvalue with at least one warning threshold value and outputs at least onewarning about a pending blocking state via the at least one outputapparatus, and/or the operating apparatus, and/or a display apparatus ifthe current involvement value falls below or reaches the at least onewarning threshold value. If, for example, a plurality of warningthresholds are provided, a warning threshold value is provided for eachof the warning thresholds. For example, these are defined relative tothe interruption threshold value so that the warning threshold valuesare correspondingly adapted when there is a dynamic adaptation of theinterruption threshold value. Other embodiments can, however, providethat the warning threshold values are assigned to fixed values, and thenthe corresponding warning state is always triggered when the warningthreshold value assigned to the warning state is exceeded or reached bythe current involvement value. If a plurality of warning thresholdsexists and the current involvement value exceeds a plurality of thesewarning threshold values, the warning state is therefore active to whichthe warning threshold value is assigned that has the shortest distancefrom the interruption threshold value.

It is particularly beneficial to inform the driver via the outputapparatus of the occurrence of a warning state. For example, in someembodiments in which the output apparatus has a plurality of lightingmeans in the peripheral field of view of the driver, the lighting meanscan be controlled so that light of a certain color is emitted which islinked to the warning state. A color is then for example alsocorrespondingly assigned to the blocking state. For example, the coloryellow is assigned to a first warning state, the color orange to asecond warning state, and the color red to the blocking state. Ofcourse, only one warning level or more than two warning levels can alsobe provided.

In order to inform the driver that the blocking state has ended,information is also for example output to the driver via the outputapparatus. This can for example be done by an acoustic signal. This canalso be done visually, for example by the plurality of lighting meansthat are turned off in a normal operating state. To communicate to thedriver that the current involvement value is decreasing continuously orin steps during the blocking state, some embodiments provides that thenumber of lighting means emitting light to indicate the blocking stateis reduced when the current involvement value decreases. For example,there is a proportionality here between the current involvement valueand the number of light-emitting lighting means.

If the at least one operating apparatus has a display in the form of afreely programmable screen or display, the blocking state is for examplealso displayed by symbols and/or alphanumeric characters for the user.In particular, a static display appears that only indicates the blockingstate so that the user is motivated to turn his gaze and attention tothe driving process.

It goes without saying that, for a person skilled in the art, there canbe certain functionalities that are operated using the at least oneoperating apparatus that, because of their major importance for drivingsafety, are not restricted or blocked by the blocking state. This holdstrue, for example, for a rear view camera whose video image of the reartraffic area of the vehicle is displayed on a display apparatus of theat least one operating apparatus even in the blocking state.

If the at least one operating apparatus has control elements that cannotbe operated by a driver while driving the vehicle, or an interface bymeans of which remote control via operating apparatuses is possible thatare not within the reach of the driver, user interactions detectedthereby are not considered for increasing the current involvement value.If however, for example, a touchscreen of the at least one userapparatus is arranged in a center console between the driver and thepassenger, user interactions by the driver and the passenger areregistered and, if driver/passenger recognition is not possible, all areused to change the current involvement value.

Reference will now be made to the drawings in which the various elementsof embodiments will be given numerical designations and in which furtherembodiments will be discussed.

Specific references to components, process steps, and other elements arenot intended to be limiting. Further, it is understood that like partsbear the same or similar reference numerals when referring to alternateFIGS.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a motor vehicle 1. This comprises a device100 for blocking at least one operating apparatus 200. This operatingapparatus 200 is for example arranged as a touchscreen 210 in a cockpit2, for example in a center console between a driver's seat 10 and apassenger's seat 11. The touchscreen 210 possesses a display apparatus211 that is coupled to a position detection unit 212. By means of the atleast one operating apparatus 200 that, in addition to the touchscreen210, can comprise other operating units which are not shown here, a widevariety of vehicle systems and functions can be operated. To do this, auser touches the touchscreen 210 with an actuation element such as afinger. In different display and operating contexts, different visualinformation can be shown on the display apparatus 211. For example,virtual control elements in the form of buttons, sliders, etc. can beshown. If a user touches the touchscreen 210 in the region of thedisplay surface of a control element, this user interaction is detectedas an actuation of the control element.

To perform user interactions on the at least one operating apparatus200, the driver must generally avert his gaze at least temporarily fromthe driving process in order to orient himself. It is thereforeproblematic for driving safety when operating a vehicle system or avehicle function requires numerous user interactions. It is alsoproblematic when a driver as a user operates several vehicle functionsor systems in quick succession. The device 100 therefore has anevaluation apparatus 300 to block the at least one operating apparatus200. Said evaluation apparatus 300 receives the information about theuser interactions detected by the at least one operating apparatus 210and evaluates it.

The at least one operating apparatus is designed to detect the userinteractions resolved for position and time. When talking here about theevaluation of the user interactions detected in a position and timeresolved manner, the evaluation of the information about the userinteractions detected by means of the at least one operating apparatusis always meant. The terms user interaction or actuation, etc. are usedin conjunction with the evaluation in short as a synonym for theinformation on the detected user interaction or actuation, etc. Adetected user interaction is therefore a short synonym for theinformation on the detected user interaction.

The evaluation apparatus 300 receives information on the userinteractions detected both in a position-resolved and time-resolvedmanner, and determines a current involvement value based on thisinformation. The current involvement value is a measure of how stronglythe user is involved in operating the at least one operating apparatus.The greater the involvement in the operation, the lesser his attentionto traffic events.

A functionality of the evaluation apparatus is generally realized bymeans of a program-controlled processor unit 310. In addition to theprocessor 310, the evaluation apparatus therefore comprises a memory 320that comprises a program memory 321 and a working and parameter memory325. The program memory 321 stores the program whose execution on theprocessor unit provides the functionality of the evaluation apparatus300. The working and parameter memory 325 stores data that are relevantfor the functionality. Part of the parameters can also be stored in theprogram memory 321. For example, the parameters that define thresholdvalues, or their standard values for dynamically changing thresholdvalues, can be stored in the program memory 321.

The evaluation apparatus 300 is designed to determine a currentinvolvement value based on the user interactions that are detected bythe at least one operating apparatus 200. The current involvement valueis increased upon each detected user interaction. The currentinvolvement value is lowered continuously over time or in intervals oftime independent of whether or not a user interaction has occurredprovided that the current involvement value has not reached its basevalue, generally the value zero.

Moreover, the evaluation apparatus 300 is designed to compare thecurrent involvement value with an interruption threshold value. If thisinterruption threshold value is reached or exceeded, a blocking stateoccurs and blocks the evaluation apparatus 300, the operating apparatus200, or at least restricts their operation. Further user entries areignored as long as the at least one user apparatus 200 is blocked. Ifthe at least one operating apparatus 200 is only restricted with respectto operation, user interactions are therefore ignored that relate toblocked functions and functionalities. This makes it possible to permitindividual safety-relevant operations, for example to still make entriesrelevant to driving safety using the at least one operating apparatus200.

For example, an output of content of the functions and/orfunctionalities to be operated via the at least one operating apparatus200 is also blocked. This however does not affect the content relevantto driving safety such as, for example, the video display of the reartraffic area that is detected by a rear view camera 15.

To inform the user that a blocking state of the at least one operatingapparatus 200 has occurred, the device 100 has an output apparatus 400.This can comprise different subsystems in order to configure the outputin a multimodal manner. On the one hand, a display context, for example,is shown on the display apparatus 410 of the touchscreen 210 whichprompts the driver to direct his attention to the traffic situation. Inaddition or alternatively, there can be acoustic output through an audiosystem 430 of the vehicle 1. It is also alternatively or additionallypossible to haptically inform the user about the occurrence of theblocking state, for example via a haptic feedback unit 440 that iscoupled to the touchscreen 210. Again alternatively or in addition,haptic feedback means can be used in a steering wheel 20.

Again alternatively or in addition, a lighting apparatus 420 can be usedthat, for example, is arranged in a peripheral field of view of thedriver on an edge 6 of the windshield 4. The lighting apparatus 420comprises for example a plurality of lighting means 421 that for exampleare designed as light emitting diodes. To forewarn the driver thatanother user entry via the at least one operating apparatus 200 can leadto a blocking state of this at least one operating apparatus 200, theevaluation apparatus 300 has a warning apparatus 390. In someembodiments, this is also integrated in the program code that providesthe other functionality of the evaluation apparatus 300, and which isshown here as a separate unit solely for illustrative purposes. Thewarning apparatus 390 compares the current involvement value with one ormore warning threshold values. If a warning threshold value is reachedor exceeded, the warning is output to the user via the output apparatus400. This can be done again visually, acoustically and/or haptically,and/or in any combination. For example, the lighting apparatus 420 canbe switched on in the peripheral field of vision of the driver. Ifdifferent warning thresholds are provided, light of a different colorcan be emitted, wherein the color is assigned to the correspondingwarning threshold. For example, yellow light can be emitted when a firstwarning threshold is reached, and light of a different color, such asred light, can be emitted when a second warning threshold is reached, atwhich the current involvement value has a shorter distance from theinterruption threshold value.

In some embodiments as shown in FIG. 1 , the device is connected to astress management system 700. Alternatively, this stress managementsystem 700 can be partially or completely designed as a component of theevaluation apparatus 300. The stress management system 700 evaluatesstress factors. For this purpose, the stress management system 700monitors various assistance systems 720 such as a lane assist 721, anelectronic stability control (ESP) 722, a navigation system 723, acruise control system 724, and/or other assistance systems 725.Furthermore, the stress management system 700 is coupled to a drivermonitoring system 730 that, for example, can comprise drowsinessdetection and the like, and provides information about the driver.Moreover, the stress management system 700 is for example also connectedto other vehicle control units 740 that supply information on the stateof the vehicle 1 and/or the environment. By means of the informationprovided by the different systems and units, all of which arecollectively referred here to as stress information, the stressmanagement system 700 determines the stresses to which the driver iscurrently being exposed while driving the vehicle. From this, the levelof the required attention by the driver to drive the vehicle can bedetermined. In some embodiments, the evaluation apparatus 300 isdesigned so that it dynamically adapts the interruption threshold valuedepending on the information from the stress management system 700. Forthis purpose, a strictness module 380 of the evaluation apparatus isprovided in some embodiments. If, for example, a lane assist is activeand has a high confidence value for the recognition of the lane and if,for example the speed is controlled by the cruise control system, therequired attention of the driver is rated lower than in a situation inwhich the lane assistance system cannot recognize the lanes, and thespeed is controlled by the driver. The interruption threshold value iscorrespondingly lowered when the stress management system 700 indicatesthat the attention required from the driver is less. If the requiredattention is contrastingly high, the interruption threshold value isalso raised.

In order to achieve that the driver interrupts his operation of the atleast one operating system and directs his attention to the drivingprocess when the blocking state has occurred, the blocking state of theat least one operating apparatus 200 in embodiments is only ended andthe operating apparatus 200 is released for new operations when thecurrent involvement value has fallen below or to a release thresholdvalue. The release threshold value can also be dynamically adapteddepending on information from the stress management system 700. Theadaptation can be such that the same time span is always needed toreduce the current involvement value by an amount that corresponds tothe difference between the interruption threshold value and the releasethreshold value. Other embodiments can however provide that theinterruption threshold value and the release threshold value aredynamically adapted such that the time span that is needed to lower thecurrent involvement value to or below the release threshold value afterthe blocking state has been reached, is greater when greater attentionby the driver is needed to drive the vehicle.

Embodiments are provided in which, in a normal operating state, anaverage interruption threshold value and an average release thresholdvalue are used that are each lowered when particularly heightenedattention is needed, and are accordingly raised when only reducedattention by the driver is required to drive the vehicle.

In addition, the current involvement value in some embodiments isinfluenced by a state machine 1300 and an additional state machine 1400that are implemented in the evaluation apparatus. Their mode ofoperation is explained in greater detail below in conjunction with FIG.7 .

In addition to the at least one operating apparatus 200 that, in thedepicted example, also comprises a display apparatus 211 of thetouchscreen 210, other display units such as a passenger display unit500 in front of the passenger and/or a display of the instrument cluster600 can be controlled by the evaluation apparatus 300, and displaycontent can be blocked in the blocking state provided that the drivercan perceive content on the corresponding display units. If thepassenger display unit 500 is only perceptible by the passenger,blocking of display contexts on the passenger display unit 500 generallydoes not occur.

FIG. 2 schematically shows a bar chart in which the current involvementvalue 1010 is shown by means of a bar 1020. Furthermore, the differentthreshold values are shown. These comprise a warning threshold value 328and, in these embodiments, an additional warning threshold value 329,the interruption threshold value 326, as well as the release thresholdvalue 327. A warning area 335 above the one warning threshold value 328and an additional warning area 336 above the additional warningthreshold value 329 are shaded to indicate that a driver is beinginformed, for example by colored light, of a pending blocking state inthe event of further user interaction. The different shading indicatesdifferent colors.

An upward arrow 330 indicates that the current involvement value isincreased by either a distance actuation value or a local actuationvalue and, if necessary, additionally by a continuous actuation value.In addition, one or more state machines can increase the currentactuation value.

A downward arrow 331 indicates that the current actuation value iscontinuously being lowered over time in competition and in addition tothis.

Beyond the interruption threshold value 326 and the release thresholdvalue 327, three stress states 340 are schematically shown which aredetermined for the driver and the driving situation. In the event of alow stress state 341, the interruption threshold value 326 and releasethreshold value 327 are reduced in comparison to the correspondingvalues in the event of a normal or average stress state 342. In theevent of a high stress state 343, the interruption threshold value 326and release threshold value 327 are raised in comparison to thecorresponding values in the event of a normal or average stress state342.

FIG. 4 is for schematically clarifying how the current involvement valueis determined and changed. FIG. 4 schematically shows the interior viewof a vehicle cockpit 2 from the perspective of the driver. The steeringwheel 20, at least one operating apparatus 200 designed as a touchscreen210, an instrument cluster display 600, a lower edge 6 of the windshield4, and a road 50 visible through the windshield 4 can be seen. Thelighting apparatus 420 of the output apparatus 400 can be seen on thelower edge 6 of the windshield 4. The touchscreen 210 of the at leastone operating apparatus 200 is shown enlarged in the foreground. With anactuation element designed as a finger 31, a user makes a user entry forexample at a first touch position 1210. This increases the currentinvolvement value by a constant distance actuation value. This isbecause no actuation has been made beforehand within a local actuationtime period, which is, for example, a few 100 milliseconds, or 1 secondin some embodiments, within a proximity 1220 around the first touchposition 1210. Subsequently, the user undertakes a second actuation atthe second touch position 1230. Since this is not done within theproximity 1220 of the previously executed first actuation at the firstactuation position 1210, the current involvement value is againincreased by the constant distance actuation value.

Subsequently, in the shown example, the user executes a third to sixthactuation within the proximity 1240 of the second touch position 1230each with a time difference that is less than the proximity span, whichis, for example, a few 100 milliseconds. For the third to sixth userinteraction, the current involvement value is always increased by justthe local actuation value which is less than the distance actuationvalue.

In addition, it is checked whether an actuation duration of the userinteraction has reached or exceeded a brief actuation time span. In thiscase, the current involvement value is additionally increased by anactuation duration involvement value. The actuation duration involvementvalue is for example variable. If the actuation lasts longer than thebrief actuation time span and is shorter than the maximum actuation timespan, the actuation duration involvement value is for example equal tothe product of an actuation duration weighting value and a differencebetween the actuation duration and brief actuation time span or, statedmore precisely, is equal to the value indicating the duration of thebrief actuation time span. If the actuation lasts longer than themaximum actuation time span, the actuation duration involvement value isset to an actuation duration involvement maximum value. This for examplecorresponds to the product from the actuation duration weighting valueand the time difference between the lengths of the maximum actuationtime span and the brief actuation time span. For example, the actuationduration involvement value is therefore either equal to a product of theactuation duration weighting value and a difference between theactuation duration and the brief actuation time span or, if thisdifference is greater than an actuation duration involvement maximumvalue, is equal to a product of the actuation duration weighting valueand this actuation duration involvement maximum value.

In the shown embodiments, it is for example assumed that when the sixthuser interaction is executed, the current involvement value exceeds afirst warning threshold value. The lighting apparatus 420 then emitsyellow light in the peripheral field of view of the driver at the bottomedge 6 of the windshield 4. In addition or alternatively, hapticfeedback can be provided by the touchscreen 210 and/or audio output byan audio system (not shown). The emitted light, audio output, and/orhaptic feedback warn the driver of the possible occurrence of a blockingstate in which additional user interactions with the at least oneoperating apparatus 200 are no longer possible and are ignored for atime period until the current involvement value has again reached orfallen below a release threshold value. This occurs due to atime-continuous or time-stepped decrease of the current involvementvalue by a constant amount per unit time until the current involvementvalue has reached a minimum base value, such as zero.

This warning state is for example schematically shown in FIG. 5 . Thesame technical features are identified with the same reference signs inall the figures. A seventh actuation whose time interval exceeds thebrief actuation time span and whose actuation start position 1280 is ata distance from the previous actuation start position 1260 of the sixthuser interaction by more than its proximity threshold value againincreases the current involvement value by the constant distanceactuation value. The proximities 1270 and 1290 are also shown. The userinteraction lasts for a time span that is greater than the briefactuation time span. For this reason, the current involvement value isincreased by an actuation duration involvement value which, as describedabove, is calculated.

For example, the additional warning threshold value is thereby exceededso that a color of the light emitted by the lighting apparatus 420 ofthe output apparatus 400 is changed; red light, for example, is thenemitted. The driver is thereby notified in his peripheral field ofvision that a blocking state is imminent if there is further userinteraction using the at least one operating apparatus 200.

If the user engages in further user interaction before the currentinvolvement value has fallen sufficiently from the reduction occurringover time, the interruption threshold value is reached or exceeded withthe new user interaction by the current involvement value, and the atleast one operating apparatus 200 switches to a blocking state.

This is shown by way of example in FIG. 6 . On the display apparatus 211of the touchscreen 210, the driver is prompted to turn his attention tothe road 50 by graphic symbols such as, for example, a stylized lane1250 and a stylized eye 1251, and additionally for example by a text1252.

In the blocking state, additional user interactions are ignored. Otherembodiments can provide that certain individual user entries are stilldetected that are needed for safety-relevant functionalities. In anycase, operation with respect to certain functions and functionalities isrestricted, however. Generally, the display of information is alsoblocked at a minimum on the at least one operating apparatus 200, andpossibly on other displays such as for example information elements inthe instrument cluster display 600 or other displays (not shown)contained in the vehicle cockpit 2.

FIG. 3 shows a temporal sequence of different bar charts 1000 thatcorrespond to several successive points in time that are identified withtx, wherein x is a natural number. Not every point in time mustcorrespond with a user interaction. The time intervals between thedifferent points in time also do not have to be the same. The sametechnical features are again identified the same and will not again beexplained.

While the user actions are being executed, the current involvement value1010 first rises at t1, t2. At point in time t3, a warning thresholdvalue 238 is reached by the current involvement value 1010. This isoutput to the user by the output apparatus, for example by changing thecolor of virtual control elements on the display area of the oneoperating apparatus 200, or by emitting colored light in the peripheralfield of view of the driver, or also acoustically by the output of asignal, or by haptic feedback on the part of the at least one operatingapparatus 200 designed as a touchscreen.

The current involvement value 1010 is increased further by a furtheruser interaction, and an additional warning threshold 329 is exceededt4. In this case as well, a warning is again output by the outputapparatus, for example in that the emitted light changes its color,and/or virtual control elements are shown changed, an acoustic signal isoutput, and/or haptic feedback is provided.

At point in time t5, the interruption threshold value 326 is reached orexceeded due to a further user interaction by the current involvementvalue 1010, and a blocking state is triggered. This continues until,based on elapsed time, the continuous lowering of the currentinvolvement value 1010 that occurs with and without user interaction haslowered the current involvement value 1010 back to or below the releasethreshold value 327 (t6). Without user interaction, the currentinvolvement value 1010 decreases further (t7).

In some embodiments, an interaction sequence of the user interactions ismonitored by means of one or more state machines. This is intended toprevent user interactions in which the user attempts, either by veryquick successive user interactions or by intentional, slow butcontinuous user interactions, to perform very complex functionaloperations that nevertheless require the attention of the driver, or toperform several functions immediately one after another in time, inparticular without taking sufficient breaks.

FIG. 7 schematically shows the modes of operation of a first statemachine 1300 which monitors a particularly fast operation of complexfunctionalities, and an additional state machine 1400 which monitors aslow but continuous operation of complex functionalities, next to a barchart 1000 which is similar to that shown in FIG. 2 . The state machines1300, 1400 each monitor whether the temporally sequential userinteractions comprise a group of user interactions in which thetemporally sequential user actions are made with time intervals that areshorter than a particular interaction interval time span which isassigned to the corresponding state machine. In addition, an interactionmonitoring time span is assigned to the particular state machine. Theparticular state machine 1300, 1400 checks whether a group of userinteractions whose time intervals are each shorter than the interactioninterval time span jointly span a time period that is greater than orequal to the interaction monitoring time span. If this is the case, thecorresponding state machine switches to an increased involvement state.This causes the evaluation apparatus to raise the current involvementvalue to or above the interruption threshold value. In the shownembodiments, the interaction monitoring time span of the one statemachine 1300 is for example 12 seconds, and the assigned interactioninterval time span is 2 seconds. If actuations are made within 12seconds whose time intervals from each other never reach or exceed 2seconds (or alternatively never exceed 2 seconds), the state machine1300 changes to the increased involvement state and results in ablocking state of the operating apparatus.

The state machine 1300 is therefore initially in an internal unoperatedstate 1310. If there is a user interaction, a switch occurs to aninternal actuation state 1320. To the outside, the state of the statemachine is a normal involvement state 1330. If another actuation occurswithin the assigned interaction interval time span (such as 2 seconds),the state machine remains in the internal actuation state 1320. If thereis a pause between the user interactions that is equal to or greaterthan the interaction interval time span, there is a switch to theinternal unoperated state 1310. If the state machine remains in theinternal actuation state 1320 for a time span equal to or greater thanthe interaction monitoring time span (such as 12 seconds)(alternatively, greater than the interaction monitoring time span), thestate machine changes to the elevated involvement state 1340 which is anexternally detectable state of the state machine 1300. This elevatedinvolvement state 1340 causes the current involvement value 1010 to beincreased to or above the interruption threshold value 326. Then thestate machine is reset to the normal involvement state 1330 with theinternal unoperated state 1310.

The additional state machine 1400 is, for example, assigned anotherinteraction monitoring time span of 24 seconds and another interactioninterval time span of 6 seconds. If actuations therefore occur for 24seconds or more seconds between which more than 6 seconds never elapse(or alternatively 6 seconds or more never elapse), this additional statemachine 1400 changes to the increased involvement state and also causesthe current involvement value 1010 to be raised to the interruptionthreshold value 326, and a blocking state is thereby triggered.

The additional state machine 1400 is therefore initially in an internalunoperated state 1410. If there is a user interaction 1500, a switchoccurs to an internal actuation state 1420. To the outside, the state ofthe state machine is a normal involvement state 1430. If anotheractuation occurs within the assigned interaction interval time span, thestate machine remains in the internal actuation state 1420. If there isa pause between the user interactions 1500 that is equal to or greaterthan the interaction interval time span (such as greater than 6seconds), there is a switch to the internal unoperated state 1410. Ifthe state machine remains in the internal actuation state 1420 for atime span equal to or greater than the interaction monitoring time span(such as 24 seconds) (alternatively, greater than the interactionmonitoring time span), the state machine changes to the elevatedinvolvement state 1440 which is an externally detectable state of thestate machine 1400. This elevated involvement state 1440 causes thecurrent involvement value 1010 to be increased to or above theinterruption threshold value 326. Then the state machine is reset to thenormal involvement state 1430 with the internal unoperated state 1410.

FIG. 8 schematically shows a front region 1600 of a vehicle 1. The frontregion 1600 has a driver's side 1601 and a passenger's side 1602. In inactuation region 1610 of the driver, there is a display and operatingapparatus 1620 and another display and operating apparatus 1630, forexample two touchscreens, by means of which the driver can make userentries. At least the one additional display and operating apparatus1630 is also in another actuation region 1615 of the passenger. Moreoverin the front region 1600 of the vehicle 1, there is another displayapparatus 1640 whose content is perceptible both by the driver andpassenger, as well as a further additional display apparatus 1650 whosecontent is only perceptible by the passenger. Whereas actuations on thetwo display and control apparatuses 1620, 1630 cause the currentinvolvement value to be accordingly increased independent of whether theuser interaction is performed by the driver or the passenger, and theoperation and, if applicable, the display of information on the twodisplay apparatuses is correspondingly blocked, as soon as theinterruption threshold value is reached or exceeded by the currentinvolvement value, the displayed content is statically blocked on theadditional display apparatus 1640 which is visible to both the driverand the passenger, but the driver cannot use it to make any userentries, i.e., depending on the driving situation, the display ofcertain content is prevented, such as for example the display of movingimage sequences while the vehicle is moving. The additional displayapparatus 1650 whose content can only be perceived by the passenger iscontrastingly not at all influenced by the blocking state or blockingmeasures.

It is understood by a person skilled in the art that only exampleembodiments are described herein. Example embodiments are conceivablethat do not have any state machine, only one state machine, or more thantwo state machines. These are, however, always provided in addition tothe increases in the current involvement value caused by each userinteraction with the at least one operating apparatus for its furtheradditional influence.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   -   1 Vehicle    -   2 Vehicle cockpit    -   4 Windshield    -   5 Center console    -   6 Edge    -   10 Driver's seat    -   11 Passenger's seat    -   15 Rear view camera    -   20 Steering wheel    -   30 Actuation element    -   31 Finger    -   50 Road    -   100 Device for blocking at least one operating apparatus    -   200 Operating apparatus    -   210 Touchscreen    -   211 Display    -   212 Position detection unit    -   300 Evaluation apparatus    -   310 Processor    -   320 Memory    -   321 Program memory    -   325 Parameter memory    -   326 Interruption threshold value    -   327 Release threshold value    -   328 Warning threshold value    -   329 Additional warning threshold value    -   330 Upward arrow    -   331 Downward arrow    -   335 Warning area    -   336 Additional warning area    -   340 Stress state    -   341 Low stress state    -   342 Medium/normal stress state    -   343 High stress state    -   380 Strictness module    -   390 Warning apparatus    -   400 Output apparatus    -   411 Display apparatus    -   420 Lighting apparatus    -   421 Lighting means    -   430 Audio system    -   440 Haptic feedback unit    -   500 Passenger display    -   600 Instrument cluster display    -   700 Stress management system    -   720 Assistance systems    -   721 Lane assist    -   722 Electronic stability control (ESP)    -   723 Navigation system    -   724 Cruise control system    -   725 Additional assistance systems    -   730 Driver state monitoring system    -   740 Other vehicle control units    -   1000 Bar chart    -   1010 Current involvement value    -   1020 Bar    -   1210 First touch position    -   1220 Proximity (first touch position)    -   1230 Second touch position    -   1240 Proximity (second touch position)    -   1250 Stylized lane    -   1251 Stylized eye    -   1252 Text    -   1260 Previous actuation start position (sixth user interaction)    -   1270 Proximity (sixth user interaction)    -   1280 Actuation start position (seventh actuation)    -   1290 Proximity (seventh actuation)    -   1300 State machine    -   1310 Unoperated state    -   1320 Internal actuation state    -   1330 Normal involvement state    -   1340 Increased involvement state    -   1400 Additional state machine    -   1410 Unoperated state    -   1420 Internal actuation state    -   1430 Normal involvement state    -   1440 Increased involvement state    -   1500 User interaction    -   1600 Front region    -   1601 Driver's side    -   1602 Passenger's side    -   1610 Actuation region    -   1615 Additional actuation region    -   1620 Display and operation apparatus    -   1630 Additional display and operation apparatus    -   1640 Additional display apparatus    -   1650 Additional further display apparatus    -   t1-t7 Points in time

The invention has been described in the preceding using variousexemplary embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments maybe understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing theclaimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and theappended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not excludeother elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does notexclude a plurality. A single processor, module or other unit or devicemay fulfil the functions of several items recited in the claims.

The term “exemplary” used throughout the specification means “serving asan example, instance, or exemplification” and does not mean “preferred”or “having advantages” over other embodiments. The term “in particular”and “particularly” used throughout the specification means “for example”or “for instance”.

The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually differentdependent claims or embodiments does not indicate that a combination ofthese measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in theclaims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

What is claimed is:

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for a vehicle for blocking displayand/or operating contexts comprising: at least one operating apparatusfor detecting haptic user interactions; and an evaluation apparatus,configured to determine a current involvement value at least on thebasis of the detected user interactions; wherein the evaluationapparatus is configured to compare the current involvement value with atleast one interruption threshold value, and to establish a blockingstate if the current involvement value reaches the at least oneinterruption threshold value, and the evaluation apparatus blocks or atleast restricts at least one operating context of the at least oneoperating apparatus, wherein the current involvement value is increasedfor each detected haptic user interaction, insofar as the currentinvolvement value has not reached or exceeded the at least oneinterruption threshold value, wherein the evaluation apparatus isconfigured to lower, continuously or in increments of time, the currentinvolvement value by a recovery value.
 2. The device of claim 1, whereinthe at least one operating apparatus is configured to detect the userinteraction resolved for position and time, and the evaluation apparatusis configured to increase the current involvement value depending on thespatial distance between positions and a time interval of sequentialactuation starts.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the evaluationapparatus is configured to increase the current involvement value uponeach detection of an actuation start by a constant distance actuationvalue when the spatial distance of the position at which the actuationstart of the user interaction is detected from the position at which theactuation start of the temporally preceding detected user interaction isdetected reaches or exceeds a proximity threshold value, or when a timespan between the detection of the actuation start and the detection ofan actuation start directly preceding in time reaches or exceeds a localactuation time span, and to increase the current involvement value by aconstant local actuation value upon each detected actuation start, whenthe spatial distance of the position at which the actuation start of theuser interaction is detected from the position at which the actuationstart of the temporally preceding detected user interaction is detectedfalls below a proximity threshold value, and in addition, a time spanbetween the detection of the actuation start and the detection of thetemporally preceding actuation start falls below a local actuation timespan, wherein the local actuation value is a smaller amount than thedistance actuation value.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein theevaluation apparatus is configured to increase the current involvementvalue by an actuation duration involvement value upon detecting anactuation end of a user interaction when an actuation duration of theuser interaction has reached or exceeded a brief actuation thresholdvalue.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein the actuation durationinvolvement value is variable and is a minimum of a difference betweenthe actuation duration and the brief actuation time span and anactuation duration involvement maximum value.
 6. The device of claim 1,wherein the evaluation apparatus is configured to end the blocking statewhen the current involvement value falls below a release thresholdvalue.
 7. The device of claim 2, wherein the evaluation apparatus has atleast one state machine, evaluates an interaction sequence of the userinteractions, and is configured to recognize an increased involvementstate or a normal involvement state based on the evaluation of the userinteraction sequence, wherein the evaluation apparatus is configured toset the current involvement value to the interruption threshold valuewhen the increased involvement state is recognized.
 8. The device ofclaim 7, wherein the at least one state machine is assigned aninteraction monitoring time span and an interaction interval time span,and changes to the increased involvement state upon detection of a userinteraction sequence that comprises a group of actuation starts detectedsequentially over time, in which the time intervals between theactuation starts of the group detected in direct sequence are allshorter than or equal to the interaction interval time span, and at thesame time these actuation starts of the group in the user interactionsequence span a time period which is greater than or equal to theinteraction monitoring time span.
 9. The device of claim 8, wherein, inaddition to the at least one state machine, the evaluation apparatuscomprises at least one additional state machine which evaluates the userinteraction sequence and which is configured to also detect an increasedinteraction involvement state or a normal involvement state, and theevaluation apparatus sets the current involvement value to theinterruption threshold value when the at least one additional statemachine changes to the increased involvement state, wherein the at leastone additional state machine is assigned an additional interactionmonitoring time period and an additional interaction interval time span,and changes to the increased involvement state upon detection of a userinteraction sequence that comprises a group of actuation starts detectedsequentially over time, in which the time intervals between theactuation starts of the additional group detected in direct sequence areall shorter than (or equal to) the additional interaction interval timespan, and at the same time these actuation starts of the additionalgroup in the user interaction sequence span a time period which isgreater than or equal to the additional interaction monitoring timespan.
 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the evaluation apparatus isconfigured to receive stress information and dynamically adapt theinterruption threshold value based on the stress information.
 11. Thedevice of claim 10, wherein the evaluation apparatus is configured todynamically adapt the release threshold value depending on the stressinformation.
 12. The device of claim 1, wherein the evaluation apparatusis configured to be coupled to at least one output apparatus in order tooutput blocking information about the existing blocking state that isperceptible without removing one's gaze from the road traffic.
 13. Thedevice of claim 12, wherein the output apparatus comprises a lightingapparatus with a plurality of lighting devices, wherein the plurality oflighting devices is arranged on the edge of a windshield in theperipheral field of vision of the driver.
 14. The device of claim 12,wherein the evaluation apparatus comprises a warning apparatus whichoutputs a warning about a pending blocking state via the at least oneoutput apparatus, and/or the operating apparatus, and/or a displayapparatus if the current involvement value falls below or reaches atleast one warning threshold value.
 15. A method for blocking displayand/or operating contexts in a vehicle comprising: detecting haptic userinteractions using at least one operating apparatus; and determining acurrent involvement value using at least the detected user interactions;wherein the current involvement value is compared with at least oneinterruption threshold value, and a blocking state is established if thecurrent involvement value has reached or exceeded the at least oneinterruption threshold value, and at least one operating context of theat least one operating apparatus is blocked or at least restricted fromfurther operation, wherein the current involvement value is increasedfor each detected haptic user interaction, insofar as the currentinvolvement value has not reached or exceeded the at least oneinterruption threshold value, and the current involvement value islowered continuously or in increments of time by a recovery value. 16.The device of claim 2, wherein the evaluation apparatus is configured toincrease the current involvement value by an actuation durationinvolvement value upon detecting an actuation end of a user interactionwhen an actuation duration of the user interaction has reached orexceeded a brief actuation threshold value.
 17. The device of claim 3,wherein the evaluation apparatus is configured to increase the currentinvolvement value by an actuation duration involvement value upondetecting an actuation end of a user interaction when an actuationduration of the user interaction has reached or exceeded a briefactuation threshold value.
 18. The device of claim 16, wherein theactuation duration involvement value is variable and is a minimum of adifference between the actuation duration and the brief actuation timespan and an actuation duration involvement maximum value.
 19. The deviceof claim 17, wherein the actuation duration involvement value isvariable and is a minimum of a difference between the actuation durationand the brief actuation time span and an actuation duration involvementmaximum value.
 20. The device of claim 2, wherein the evaluationapparatus is configured to end the blocking state when the currentinvolvement value falls below a release threshold value.